Report: Giants among teams interested in Lackey
Four of the San Francisco Giants' most veteran starters likely won't be back with the club in 2016 - Tim Hudson retired last month, while Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong, and Mike Leake are free agents - and the club is casting a wide net in its search for potential replacements.
John Lackey, the fiery 37-year-old who spent the first eight years of his career in Anaheim, has piqued the Giants' interest, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. He isn't the only prominent starter linked to San Francisco, though, as CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported last week that the Giants might be a "formidable threat" to sign Zack Greinke, as well.
Lackey, a one-time All-Star, has enjoyed something of a renaissance with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals since missing the entire 2012 season following Tommy John surgery. Over the last three years, Lackey owns a 3.35 ERA (119 ERA+) with a 3.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 93 starts, accruing more RA9-WAR (12.0) than all but 15 starters.
In 2015, his first full season in St. Louis, Lackey emerged as the Cardinals' most valuable starter after Adam Wainwright suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in April. Lackey, who earned a league-minimum salary due to a unique contractual stipulation, fashioned a career-best 2.77 ERA (143 ERA+) with a 1.21 WHIP over 218 innings, his most since 2007.
Lackey is attached to draft-pick compensation, however, after rejecting the Cardinals' one-year, $15.8-million qualifying offer earlier this month.